2016 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 239 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 33 involved a crash and 12 involved a fire. 27 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryNov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Campaign 23V734000 on NHTSA.gov
TiresApr 22, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Campaign 16V236000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipApr 7, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Campaign 16V198000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
28 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Mar 17, 2025
Headlights and taillights are fogging/hazing up to where they dimmed out the lights when turned on making is somewhat difficult to see or others behind me to see me.
Exterior lighting, Apr 4, 2024
A fogging/white residue has developed over time on the inside of the tail lights. As this continues to progress it would make the lights much dimmer and harder to see. ( I see several references to the same issue doing an online search for 2016 rav4 taillight fogging)
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2024
All 6 of mine lights (front/fog and inside/outside rear) are collecting haze / contamination on the inside of the lens. Lights are a primary safety/warning device. Anything (like interior fogging) that interferes with this function is a SERIOUS safety defect that the manufacturer should fix under a safety recall. I have already spent money replacing one of the side rear light assemblies, due to these being a safety hazard. I would like to avoid an accident or possible legal tickets.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 8, 2023
I took my car to Toyota for multiple issues with my electrical. My headlights go out every 5-10 minutes when trying to drive at dark. The headlights turn off or do not work if I try to use my blinker or windshield wipers. Three times now my car has stalled when I tried to turn on my headlights while driving. And one time it stalled when I went to make a left turn. Toyota ran a diagnostic and said everything was fine. I took it to autozone, they said the battery was fine. A third opinion and a new battery later and I’m still having the same problems. No one can tell me what’s wrong.
Exterior lighting, Dec 5, 2022
Rear taillight covers are deteriorating. Discoloration and fog
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2022
After looking through Google reviews I see that so many have the same situation that we are having. The headlights keep blowing randomly about every 3-4 months. We were out West on back roads when ours blew this last time and had to drive with only one headlight, which was dangerous. I feel someone should look into all the numerous complaints showing up online regarding the headlights of the 2016 Toyota Rav4s.
Exterior lighting, May 15, 2021
CONDENSATION IS APPEARING ON BOTH OF THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS THE CAR HAS 40000 MILES NOT SURE SHY THIS IS HAPPENING I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN ON THE RIM OF THE BACK LIGHTS
Exterior lighting, Mar 29, 2021
HEADLIGHT WATER CONDENSATION....IN MADE IN JAPAN MODEL....MY HEADLIGHT GOT WATER CONDENSATION LOOKS WORST OVER THE TIME... I LOOK ON INTERNET N FOUND THAT'S RAV4 ASSEMBLED IN JAPAN HAS SPECIFIC WITH HEADLIGHTS.... HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/MOISTURE-IN-HEADLAMPS.294553/
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Mar 16, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO START THE VEHCILE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FILLED WITH WATER AND WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED NYC MOTORCARS OF THE BRONX (3748 BOSTON RD, THE BRONX, NY 10469, (347) 966-4272) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Exterior lighting, Nov 24, 2020
ALL 4 TAIL LIGHTS ARE DEVELOPING A WHITE HAZE ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE VISIBILITY OF THE AFFECTED SAFETY LIGHT. THIS INTERNAL LENS CONTAMINATION CANNOT BE CLEANED AND WILL CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO MEET THEIR ORIGINAL DOT APPROVED SPECIFICATIONS CREATING A SAFETY/CRASH HAZARD. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO AFFECT ALL 2016-2018 RAV4S SUPPLIED WITH LIGHT ASSEMBLIES MADE BY ICHIKOH/VALEO. NOTE: THIS ISSUE IS NOT CAUSED BY ISOLATED DEFECTIVE CRACKED OR BROKEN LIGHT ASSEMBLIES CONTAMINATED BY WATER. BASED ON MY OWN VEHICLE AND A ROUGH PARKING LOT SURVEY ALL OF THESE LIGHTS WILL DEVELOP THIS ISSUE OVER TIME. MY CURRENT WORKING THEORY IS THAT THIS INSIDE LENS FOGGING IS CAUSED BY LEACHING PLASTICIZERS FROM THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES COMPONENTS VAPORIZING AND THEN DEPOSITING ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. THE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT RECEIVED SEEMS TO CORRELATE WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Oct 19, 2019
THE AUTO HIGHBEAM FEATURE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.
Exterior lighting, Oct 16, 2019
THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT #11268870, CONCERNING A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM WITH OUR 2016 RAV 4 LE. THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS CREATED BY THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MOVES UP AND DOWN WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR AS THE VEHICLE ADJUSTS TO THE VAGARIES OF THE ROAD. IT BECOMES A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE PAST ABOUT 60 FEET. SO YOU ARE DEALING NOT ONLY WITH LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE AND AN OMINOUS CURTAIN OF DARKNESS, ITS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY BECAUSE THE DARKNESS CONTINUES TO MOVE UP AND DOWN AS YOU DRIVE CAUSING A SERIOUS DIVERSION OF CONCENTRATION. PUTTING ALL THE FACTORS TOGETHER CREATES A VERY STRESSFUL, ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Exterior lighting, Oct 16, 2019
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON THE VISIBILITY DISTANCE IS LIMITED TO ABOUT 60 FEET. AFTER THAT ALL THAT YOU CAN SEE IS A BLACK VEIL LIKE A CURTAIN HUNG OVER THE LIGHTS. NOTHING CAN BE SEEN OR DETECTED IN THE DARKNESS BEYOND WHERE THE LIGHT ABRUPTLY ENDS PRESENTING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. THE CONDITION IS AMPLIFIED ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS WHERE THERE IS NO STREET LIGHTING OR OTHER AMBIENT LIGHT. DRIVING ON HIGH BEAMS IS THE ONLY SAFE OPTION, BUT EVEN THEN THE HIGH BEAMS CONFLICT WITH EACH SIDE AND THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL VISION MAKING TURNING A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. SEARCHING THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BRINGS UP A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS NOT ONLY FOR THE 2016 RAV 4 LE BUT THROUGH 2018 AS WELL. DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IS A VERY DANGEROUS COMMUTE, AND SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS INCLUDE HITTING DEER, DRIVING OFF THE ROAD WHILE TURNING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DETECT ANY MOVEMENT OR OBSTACLES IN THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS THAT THESE HEADLIGHTS CREATE. STATEMENTS IN THE COMPLAINTS MENTION THAT THE DEALERSHIPS SAY THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURED PROBLEM AND THEY CAN ONLY ADJUST TO TOYOTA'S SPECS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY SMALL ON THIS VEHICLE SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. AS FAR AS I KNOW NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FLAW, BUT PERHAPS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT OCCURS, UNLESS THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE SAFELY IN THIS VEHICLE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON. AND TO DRIVE WITH ONLY THE HIGH BEAMS AT ALL TIMES PRESENTS ANOTHER HAZARD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA MANUFACTURING BEFORE THE WORST HAPPENS BECAUSE OF IT. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES TAKEN OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT SHOWS THE LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE AND THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS THAT FALLS BEYOND THE LIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2019
PURCHASED 2016 RAV4 FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN JUNE 2019. HAD BADLY FOGGED TAIL LIGHTS ON PURCHASE (AS DID FOUR OTHER 2016 RAV4S I LOOKED AT ON DEALER LOTS). PAID LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP $650 ON 6/24/19 TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS WITH OEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER (8/17/19) HAD RAIL STORM AND SAW CONDENSATION INSIDE RIM OF ALL 4 TAIL LIGHTS. CAN REPLACE THEM AGAIN BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN LIGHTS ARE DIMMED FROM FOGGING.
Exterior lighting, Nov 27, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE NOT ADEQUATE. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD TO SEE OBJECTS ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2017, I NEARLY HIT TWO DEER ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE THEM.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 17, 2018
I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY. SINCE THEN MY WIFE HAS HIT A DEER BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT SEE MORE THAN ONE CAR LENGTH IN FRONT WITHOUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON. NOW SHE ALWAYS DRIVES WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THISORNING SHE WAS VERBALLY ACCOSTED FROM ANOTHER DRIVER FOR DRIVING WITH HER HIGH BEAMS ON. WE LIVE IN A MORE RURAL AREA WITH VERY FEW STREET LIGHTS. GET A RAV 4 PUT IT IN A TOTALLY DARK AREA AND TURN ON THE HEAD LIGHTS. MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN BUMPER AND END OF LIGHT. THEN YOU WILL SEE THE ISSUE. THE LIGHTS MIGHT HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENT MEET BUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE GOES LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOT FORWARD WHILE DRIVING.
Exterior lighting, Oct 7, 2018
DIM HEADLAMPS ARE LIFE THREATENING. FIELD OF VISION IS SHORT WITH A LINE AND DARKNESS ABOVE LIMITING VISION. RIGHT AND LEFT TURNING VISION NON EXISTENT. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS AND OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TOYOTA REPAIR SAYS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO, LAMPS MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS. EVENING TEST DRIVES SHOULD BE MANDATORY. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY TO TRY AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE DARK. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLUTION. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER.
Exterior lighting, Mar 21, 2018
AUTO HIGH BEAMS - INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN "LOW" I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT CAN'T REPRODUCE IT ON DEMAND. LAST INSTANCE WAS ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT RURAL ROAD WITH NO LIGHTS, SIGNALS OR SAME DIRECTION TRAFFIC TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. WAS APPROACHED BY ONCOMING CAR WHICH FAILED TO DIM LIGHTS. MINE DIMMED BUT DID NOT RETURN TO BRIGHT. HAD TO POWER CYCLE THE LIGHTS TO GET THE HIGH BEAMS BACK. A MINUTE LATER WAS APPROACHED BY 3 CARS CLOSE TOGETHER WITH OVERLY BRIGHT LIGHTS. MINE DIMMED AND STAYED DIM JUST LIKE BEFORE. HAD TO POWER CYCLE TO GET THE BRIGHTS BACK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO NOT HAVE BRIGHTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING BLINDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC!
Exterior lighting, Feb 5, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HORRIBLE! IT IS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING IN A POORLY LIT TUNNEL WITH VERY LITTLE PERIPHERAL VISION. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING ONCOMING DRIVERS FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT ME WHILE DRIVING WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, SO IT MUST BE AFFECTING THEIR ABILITY TO SEE. VERY DANGEROUS FOR BOTH DRIVERS! THIS IS A VERY POOR HEADLIGHT SETUP AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED ON ALL THE AFFECTED MODELS.
Exterior lighting, Dec 12, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE TURNED ON TO HAVE SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ST. COULD TOYOTA (418 2ND ST S, WAITE PARK, MN 56387 (320) 227-8052). THE TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS AND STATED THAT NO FURTHER ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT. THE STOCK HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND WERE NOT REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND TOYOTA STATED THAT THE STOCK LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED CANNOT SEE MORE THAN 2 TO 3 CAN LENGTHS AHEAD WHEN ON, DIM AT START UPDATED 8/27/18*JB
Exterior lighting, Aug 31, 2017
I HAVE A 2016 RAV4 LIMITED WITH 12000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE AND I'M AFRAID I MIGHT RUN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT SOME DAY. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE THE ROADS CLEARLY AT ALL. I HOPE A RECALL COULD BE SET TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Jun 12, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME TOO BRIGHT AND CAUSED OTHER DRIVERS TO FLASH THEIR HEADLIGHTS, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. TOYOTA OF NICHOLESVILLE, KENTUCKY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, May 8, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS FOCUSED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE AFTER MARKET BULBS, BUT THEY PERFORMED WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL BULBS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED ONLY, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.
Exterior lighting, Apr 3, 2017
DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING SPEEDOMETER IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. DEALER REPORT THAT EVERYTHING IS "WORKING AS IT SHOULD", BUT I CANNOT DETERMINE MY SPEED ACCURATELY.
Exterior lighting, Nov 21, 2016
HEADLIGHT BEAMS ARE CAPPED BY WHAT APPEARS AS A HORIZONTAL LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS IF A SHADE IS HALFWAY DOWN. LIMITED ROAD IS VISIBLE BELOW THE LINE AND JUST PITCH BLACK ABOVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PITCHED DOWN AS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT FIFTY FEET AHEAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVE HIGH-BEAMS ON AND THOSE ARE DIRECTED TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD RATHER THAN HAVING A BROAD BEAM. ALSO, THERE IS NO LIGHT TO THE FRONT OF EITHER SIDE SO TURNING AT NIGHT IS BLIND AS YOU MAKE THE TURN. WE NEED THIS FLAW CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE?